Former South Orange official pleads guilty to theft charges

NEWARK -- South Orange’s former director of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Andrew Brady, pleaded guilty to theft charges on Monday in Superior Court in Newark, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Brady, 61, faces probation and community service but no jail time when he is sentenced next month, the prosecutor’s office said.

He was charged with theft in February after officials determined that he had failed to deposit proceeds from five concerts held at The Baird last year. Instead of depositing gate receipts in municipal accounts, Brady pocketed $1,113 from concerts in March, April, June, October and December, authorities said.

According to an agreement with a local promoter, South Orange was entitled to half the gate receipts.

Brady could have faced a sentence of three to five years in jail on the third-degree theft charges. Brady, who lives in South Orange, retired in January after a 43-year career with the municipality. He earned $94,888 as director last year.